"Stop the car!" Shouted Albert "Boss!" "I said stop the car or you are fired!" Albert said coldly. 'Screeeeeeech' the driver stepped on the emergency break. Before he could react, his boss had already flung the door and was running towards a certain direction... .... "Let's go home." Hearing the word home, Velma looked at the man before her dumbly. "Let's go home..." Albert repeated himself. Before waiting for Velma to reply, he took her hand and led her to the car.
Seventy now-adult children of divorce give their candid and often heart-wrenching answers to eight questions (arranged in eight chapters, by question), including: What were the main effects of your parents' divorce on your life? What do you say to those who claim that "children are resilient" and "children are happy when their parents are happy"? What would you like to tell your parents then and now? What do you want adults in our culture to know about divorce? What role has your faith played in your healing? Their simple and poignant responses are difficult to read and yet not without hope. Most of the contributors--women and men, young and old, single and married--have never spoken of the pain and consequences of their parents' divorce until now. They have often never been asked, and they believe that no one really wants to know. Despite vastly different circumstances and details, the similarities in their testimonies are striking; as the reader will discover, the death of a child's family impacts the human heart in universal ways.
Do You Want to Be a Spiritual Leader? Start Here Have the day-to-day realities of being a dad and husband left you frustrated or just plain worn out? You’re not alone. Jerrad Lopes felt that way too…until he started blogging about his struggles and discovered thousands of other men who want to be good husbands and fathers but don’t know where to start. You will learn that spiritual leaders realize their story isn’t the story—it’s all about Jesus point their wives, children, community, and world toward God stumble their way through spiritual leadership rather than doing nothing seek humility rather than striving for perfection refuse to let their sin and shame stop them from leading their family look for adventure in the kingdom of God, not in the world create gospel-centered memories with their wife and children When you begin to understand the bigger picture of God’s purpose for you in your marriage and family, you’ll see that the good news of Jesus makes it possible for you to love and lead without fear and discouragement. Get equipped and encouraged as you become the man God is calling you to be—even when you’re dad tired.
Some places have a history so dark it stains the soil. Orphan Rock is one of them. For years, the Northamm family has served the Crooked Woman. Bound by sinister magic, they commit unspeakable acts to save themselves and the ones they love from something wicked that’s stirring beneath the dirt. Harpies in the hills. Demons in the dark. Lonely girls who command giant earthworms that tunnel between worlds… Anything goes in this twisted tale of monsters, mayhem, and revenge. A contemporary dark fantasy with elements of horror, Chad Ryan’s Ghost River is a gritty and desolate journey into the peaks and gulches of the human spirit. ADVISORY: This story is for mature readers. Ghost River explores sensitive subject matter, including graphic violence/death, disturbing imagery, misogyny, domestic abuse, child abuse, racism, kidnapping, and sexual assault. Read with caution.
A sensational collection of stories of the American experience from the Depression to the aftermath of 9/11, by one of the most gifted American writers of the twentieth century and the author of the acclaimed Rabbit series. John Updike mingles narratives of Pennsylvania with stories of New England suburbia and of foreign travel: “Personal Archaeology” considers life as a sequence of half-buried layers, and “The Full Glass” distills a lifetime’s happiness into one brimming moment of an old man’s bedtime routine. High-school class reunions, in “The Walk with Elizanne” and “The Road Home,” restore their hero to youth’s commonwealth where, as the narrator of the title story confides, “the self I value is stored, however infrequently I check on its condition.” Exotic locales encountered in the journeys of adulthood include Morocco, Florida, Spain, Italy, and India. The territory of childhood, with its fundamental, formative mysteries, is explored in “The Guardians,” “The Laughter of the Gods,” and “Kinderszenen.” Love’s fumblings among the bourgeoisie yield the tart comedy of “Free,” “Delicate Wives,” “The Apparition,” and “Outage.”
The New York Times bestseller that helps you explore whether romance is in the stars. Linda Goodman’s Love Signs addresses the question asked by everyone familiar with astrology: How do I relate to someone of another sign? Each sign is “related” to the twelve signs of the zodiac in a different and unique way. Each section addresses the differences for a male and a female with the same sign matches. This is an updated edition of Linda Goodman’s lively bestseller, which has introduced millions to the concept of astrological compatibility. “What seems to set Goodman’s books apart from other stargazing guides is their knowledgeable approach and comprehensive reach.” —Newsweek
Meet Vince Fong... I’ve got a pretty great life, if I do say so myself. I made a fortune when I sold my tech start-up, and I’ve spent the years since partying, drinking, and inviting a parade of women into my bed. I should be happy, but I feel an annoying lack of fulfillment, and there’s no way I’m going back to the work I did before. At a friend’s party, I meet Marissa. We have hot sex against the door and agree to spend the weekend together. Just one weekend. I never expect to see her again. Except now she’s pregnant with my baby…and I think this is the solution to all my problems. This is what will bring meaning to my life. I’m going to be a devoted father and husband. Marissa—whose last name I still don’t know—wants me to be involved, though she rejects my marriage proposal. But before the baby arrives, I’m going to prove to her that I can be something other than a playboy. And the rare times I set my mind to something, I don’t fail… Jackie Lau writes soft and steamy romances with Asian characters, all set in Canada. KEYWORDS: rom-com, one-night stand, one hot weekend, accidental pregnancy, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, playboy, Asian hero, Asian heroine, steamy romance, Canadian romance, foodie romance, happy ending, guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers, lots of cheesecake, so much cheesecake
To get to happily ever after, sometimes you need to start from scratch.... Abbey Ross, who runs her own bakery in Oakland, California, is known for her visually stunning wedding cakes. But lately, Abbey’s own love life has become stale. According to her best friend, Bendrix, Abbey’s not the spontaneous young woman she was when they were teenagers listening to the Cure and creating attention-grabbing graffiti. Of course, her failed relationship with a womanizing art forger might have something to do with that. Nevertheless, it’s time for Abbey to step out of the kitchen—and her comfort zone—and Bendrix has even handpicked a man for her to date. Samuel Howard is everything Abbey’s dreamed of: handsome, successful, and looking to raise a family. But a creamy icing might be needed to hide a problem or two. When Samuel complains about disrespect for the institution of marriage, Abbey’s reminded of her nontraditional family, with thirteen children from various mothers. And when Samuel rails about kids having kids, Abbey thinks of her twenty-year-old sister who’s recently revealed her pregnancy. Soon Abbey is facing one disaster after another and struggling to make sense of it all. Her search for love has led her down a bitter path, but with the help of her unique family and unwavering friends, she just might find the ooh la la that makes life sweet. READERS GUIDE INCLUDED
"Steve and Rhonda Stoppe debunk misleading myths with grace, humor, and candor and leave you with hope that your marriage can become more than the stuff of your dreams." Richard Blackaby, PhD Grow Your Marriage One Step at a Time Imagine if your good friends were a couple dedicated to help you build the marriage you've always dreamed of. Steve and Rhonda are that couple. After three decades of helping couples build no-regrets marriages, the Stoppes have compiled their success secrets into this easy-to-read, fun, and interactive book. It will help you ... learn to engage in meaningful conversation break free from regrets that hold you back renew your hope for lifelong love Every page feels like a candid conversation with a friend. You will laugh and learn from a biblical perspective the secrets to enjoying a marriage that lasts a lifetime.
True story! "I spoke soothing words and touched her pale fingers. The silent weeping stopped." The baby's chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. Airway scarring rendered spoken language impossible. Heather wasn't my child, but her distress tattered my heart. Fourteen months old, the little one lay swaddled in a blanket, forgotten and lost amongst unchanging hospital routines. “Just be glad she’s only abandoned, not abused.” The words on the other end of the phone line stung. I wrestled with anger, but instinct quieted any sharp response. A chance meeting turned tragedy to miracle. I wrote the book about our search to give the voiceless child a family, to find a surgeon who could reconstruct her airway. Otherwise she would never speak, never swim. When I met her, she'd never been outside, never seen the sun, never seen the moon. She could not even move a finger. She'd always lived in a hospital on a breathing machine, fed by a tube in her tummy. No one dared dreamed she might survive and have a family of her own. Might we adopt her? Were the damning prophecies true? Sometimes dreams come true, more fantastic than envisioned. There is a newer subspecialty, pediatric otolaryngology. These ear, nose, and throat surgeons can restore voice and hearing. READ THE BOOK. WRITE A REVIEW. TELL YOUR FRIENDS. Enjoy the adventure of healing Heather and discover the miracle surgery that restores her voice. "This is a true story of hope, unconditional love, faith, as well as an exceptional family who would not take "No" for an answer. Ann writes beautifully with vision and descriptions that take you bedside with Heather, on family outings to the river, or just inside her home filled with laughter, scary moments with how fragile Heather was, the exhausting routine of life at that time, and finally the miracle of seeing Heather grow up." Kathy, Reader *** Diana Forrest. I'm reading this book now, can hardly put it down. Thanks be to God to her awesome Adopted family and to so many great Doctors and nurses. Heather is a living beautiful Miracle and a precious gift from God. Dec. 25, 2017 Janet Kortright rated it amazing. I could NOT put this book down. I read it in one night. Start to finish. I felt like I was part of the journey, the family. I will read this again and recommend it to others. A feel good story that shows they're are good people in the world. To advocate for children. To stand your ground to get the care needed for your children. Lynn, January 3, 2018 Voiceless Child is an amazing true story on the trials and tribulations in adopting a special medical needs child. A must read for all especially those who can relate to caring for and having a premature baby like me and my husband. Such a double blessing: For Heather - to be adopted by a loving family and getting a voice. For the family - the experience of adopting and providing medical needs for Heather that takes them on extraordinary life experiences of faith, hope, perseverance, joy, and love. Thanks Ann for sharing your true life experience! *** Heather’s story is heartwrenching, captivating, frustrating. I was impelled to read on to discover who would help or hinder her recovery. What I learned applauds the magical minds and hands of innovative surgeons. The inspiring story of perseverance is relevant to anyone who is facing a challenging obstacle. --Dar Walks Out, Lakota Sioux, Pine Ridge, South Dakota Voiceless Child is a thoughtful exploration of the grace and imperfections inherent in medical care systems and individual providers. Heather epitomizes the motivation for devising surgical procedures that eliminate a parent’s constant worry of death associated with airway disorders. -- Dr. Robin Cotton, director of pediatric otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Before the events evolved to the point whose impact could only be conveyed through a book, I published it as an article, “The Child No One Wanted” in Woman’s Day. “We’ve had a terrific reaction to it. Our readers really loved the story.” --Jane Chesnutt, then editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day.
